As Rowena continued to clash with Athos, her focus was unwavering, but Cevic couldn't help but feel a surge of concern for her. The air was thick with tension, and the magical energy pulsating from the battle threatened to overwhelm anyone not prepared.
Cevic's eyes darted toward Kenjo, the turtle beastfolk, whose arrival had already shifted the tide of the battle. "I already know what you're thinking," Kenjo said, his voice calm and steady as he readied his blade. "Let me handle this."
Cevic nodded in gratitude, though the animosity between the Eldoans and beastfolk still lingered in his heart. "You have my thanks, beastfolk!" he replied, setting aside his doubts for the moment. There were more pressing matters to attend to.
Turning his attention back to Rowena, who was locked in a vicious duel with Athos, Cevic shouted to the remaining Eldoans, "We need to help Ms. Rowena, everyone!" His voice rang out with urgency, and the 15 knights and mages who were left responded with steely resolve, ready to give everything they had.
Ash Minse, watching from a distance, saw the stirring in Cevic's ranks and smirked. His hand gestured toward his lich, Shen Mort, who stood with an eerie, undead calm. "Not too fast." Ash barked, his voice dripping with malice as he commanded Shen Mort and the swarming skeletons to descend upon the Eldoans.
The tide of skeletons surged forward, but Kenjo was ready. His katana gleamed under the dim light of the battlefield, and with swift, precise strikes, he sliced through the advancing undead. "Not so fast also." Kenjo shouted, his movements a blur of lethal efficiency as he cut down wave after wave of skeletons, his beastfolk agility on full display.
Cevic, realizing the severity of the situation, quickly assessed their dwindling numbers. "You five, assist Ms. Rowena!" he ordered, directing the five mages toward Rowena, who was struggling to keep Athos at bay with her frost magic. The five mages immediately began chanting, preparing to lend their power to reinforce her spells.
Now, only five knights and five mages remained at Cevic's side, along with himself. He knew the odds were against them, but there was no time for fear. "The rest of you." Cevic called out, his voice full of determination, "give me some time to fight that monster who's battling Ms. Rowena. You ten handle Shen Mort and the skeletons!"
The knights and mages exchanged brief nods of acknowledgment, readying their weapons and spells as they moved to engage Shen Mort and the relentless army of skeletons. They were outnumbered, but they had no choice—they had to hold the line.
As Cevic prepared to charge into the heart of the chaos, he took one last glance at Rowena.
The battlefield was in chaos. The ground beneath them was cracked and scorched from the sheer magnitude of magic and combat that had taken place. The air was heavy with ash and the acrid scent of burning earth, while the pale light from the moons above cast an eerie glow on the scene.
Rowena was kneeling, panting heavily. Her once elegant robe was tattered, covered in dirt and blood. Her breathing was labored, every rise and fall of her chest filled with the weight of exhaustion. Ice still lingered in the air around her from the remains of her Lactum Freeze spell, though it had lost much of its potency. The frosty mist hung low around her, a bitter reminder of her earlier attempt to seal Athos.
Athos stood towering above her, his presence radiating dark, malevolent energy. His eyes, glowing with a menacing light, bore down on Rowena with cruel satisfaction. His black armor shimmered with a sinister gleam, untouched by any of her attacks. The arm that had once been torn off had fully regenerated, as if the battle had cost him nothing. His voice was deep and mocking as he taunted her.
"I told you," Athos said, his voice like thunder, "your power is nothing compared to mine now. You should have known better than to challenge me." He took a step closer, the earth trembling beneath his feet. "This fight was over the moment you faced the Son of Aurathos!"
Rowena gritted her teeth, her hand clutching the cold orb that was now dimming in her grasp. "It's not over yet!!" she shouted, though her voice faltered with the weight of her fatigue.
Athos smirked, his lips curling into a dark grin. "Oh, but it is. The very moment you dared to stand against me... Athos!" His name echoed like a thunderclap, the overwhelming pressure of his magic pushing down on her.
Suddenly, a voice pierced through the chaotic battlefield. "Ms. Rowena!!"
Rowena's eyes snapped to the side, her heart skipping a beat. It was Cevic. She saw him running toward her, his sword glowing faintly with magic, his armor scratched but intact. His face was a mix of determination and desperation.
"No!" Rowena shouted, her voice filled with urgency and fear. "Cevic, no! Go away!" She knew he wasn't strong enough to face Athos. Not yet. If he came any closer, Athos would tear him apart.
But Cevic didn't slow. The wind whipped through the torn banners of war, and the once serene landscape was now a battlefield of shattered stone, swirling embers, and the remnants of spells. In the distance, Kenjo was still slicing through waves of skeletons, his movements fluid and precise, while the other mages desperately cast spells to keep the undead at bay.
The ground cracked beneath Cevic's hurried steps, and a burst of magical energy swirled around his sword, amplifying his speed. His comrades were locked in a fierce struggle against Shen Mort, the lich summoning waves of death and destruction with every movement.
Athos turned his gaze toward Cevic, his dark eyes narrowing. "Foolish boy." he muttered, extending his hand toward him. Dark tendrils of energy began to pulse from Athos' palm, ready to strike at Cevic as he approached.
The battlefield crackled with the energy of spells and sheer desperation. Rowena's heart raced even faster, her breath ragged as she struggled to stay on her feet. She couldn't let Cevic die—not after all they had fought for.
Athos laughed, the sinister sound of his voice echoing through the air. "Too late!!!" He raised his hand, summoning a swirling ball of dark magic, its chaotic energy pulsating with malevolent force. Without hesitation, he hurled it directly toward Cevic.
Rowena, despite the overwhelming exhaustion weighing her down, forced herself to act. Her body screamed in pain, but she focused, placing both hands firmly on the frozen earth beneath her. "Glacies Sphera!" she cried out, her voice strained. A sphere of glistening water, imbued with frost, formed in front of her and launched itself at Athos's dark magic ball.
But Athos merely smirked, watching his deadly spell race forward. "Too late, Rowena Lomius." he taunted, his eyes gleaming with triumph as his attack closed in on Cevic.
Cevic's eyes widened, knowing there was no time to escape. The dark magic was only moments away from striking him. A sense of dread filled him—he was going to die.
Just then, the five mages, who had been running toward Rowena, acted without hesitation. The black-haired mage, older and more experienced, quickly took command. "Protect Sir Cevic!!!" he shouted, his voice commanding despite the urgency.
The four other mages nodded in unison, their faces determined. They raised their hands and began chanting. "Aquatic Shield!" they yelled in perfect synchronization.
A shimmering, translucent shield of water formed around Cevic, its surface rippling with magical energy. The shield pulsed with strength, a fusion of the five mages' combined power. The air around the shield shimmered as the magic fortified itself, ready to intercept Athos's attack.
But Athos's dark magic ball was no ordinary spell. As it hurtled through the air, it grew larger, its energy becoming more chaotic and unstable. The ball crackled with black lightning, arcs of malevolent energy striking the ground as it approached the shield. The power behind it was overwhelming, and even Rowena's ice sphere began to slow down as it collided with the dark magic.
For a moment, there was a brief, tense silence—then the two forces collided.
The Sphere of water and ice smashed into the dark magic ball, creating a massive explosion of steam and energy. The sheer force of the clash sent shockwaves across the battlefield, causing the ground to tremble and crack beneath the strain. The ice sphere was no match for the chaotic dark energy, and it began to dissolve, allowing the dark magic ball to press forward.
But then, it hit the Aquatic Shield.
The combined power of the five mages surged as their spell met Athos's dark magic. The water shield glowed brighter, thickening with layers of magical energy as it fought to contain the volatile dark ball. Cevic, standing inside the shield, could feel the intensity of the magic, the clash of power creating a vortex of energy around him.
Athos's eyes narrowed as he watched his dark magic being resisted. "You think this will stop me?" he growled.
The dark magic ball began to pulse violently, its chaotic energy growing even more unstable. Tendrils of black lightning lashed out from it, striking the ground and sending sparks flying into the air. The shield, though powerful, began to strain under the pressure. Cracks of light began to appear on its surface, the force of Athos's attack threatening to overwhelm it.
The black-haired mage gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as he concentrated. "Hold... hold the shield!" he shouted, his voice filled with strain.
The other mages echoed his determination, but the strain was immense. The dark magic was too powerful, too chaotic. It wasn't just an ordinary attack—it was fueled by Athos's malevolent intent and the chaotic energy of his very being. The mages' aquatic shield began to crack, pieces of water magic splintering off as the shield started to give way.
"Stay strong!" the black-haired mage shouted, but his voice was filled with desperation.
Cevic, inside the shield, could feel the tension in the air. His heart pounded in his chest, his thoughts racing. He couldn't let them die for him—he had to act. But before he could move, the shield burst apart with a loud shattering sound, the force of the dark magic sending the mages stumbling back.
The dark magic ball, now unrestrained, lunged forward once again.
Rowena, seeing the shield collapse, shouted, "No!!" But she was too far and too tired to stop it.
The dark magic was mere inches from Cevic when something unexpected happened.
A blinding light shot through the battlefield, cutting through the darkness like a blade. Athos's dark magic ball disintegrated in an instant, the malevolent energy dissolving into nothing. Athos, stunned, turned toward the source of the light.
From the center, a figure emerged, cloaked in radiance, their presence both commanding and serene.
It was Colerio and his teams
To be continue